Rose plant -- Meimafris variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided which forms abundantly and continuously attractive very double cream white blossoms which possess a long life. The plant exhibits a vigorous, compact, and bushy growth habit and is well adapted for growing in containers. The blossoms exhibit a particularly strong fragrance. The plant is well suited for growing in parks and gardens and is not particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the product of the pollination of the Queen Elizabethvariety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,259) by the Eleg variety (non-patented inthe United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was theMeidragelac variety (non-patented in the United States). The parentageof the new variety can be summarized as follows:

    [Queen Elizabeth×Eleg]×Meidragelac.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and 95plantlets were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) forms in abundance very double long lasting cream white blossomswhich exhibit a strong fragrance,

(b) exhibits an upright, vigorous, compact and bushy growth habit,

(c) is well adapted for growing in containers, and

(d) is not particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases.

The exhibition of a strong blossom fragrance is considered to be mostunusual in rose plants of this general blossom coloration.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry sincethe plant blossoms continuously and abundantly. It is well adapted forgrowing and sale in containers, and is particularly suited for servingas an attractive decoration in parks and gardens.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation by anumber of routes, including budding, grafting, cuttage, etc. Thecharacteristics of the new variety have been found to be strictlytransmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation toanother.

The new variety has been named the Meimafris variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were two years of age and were observed during Junewhile budded on Rosa froebelii understock and growing outdoors atLeCannet des Maures, Var, France.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- obverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- reverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower immediately priorto petal drop -- plan view -- obverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower immediately priorto petal drop -- plan view -- reverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of an adult branch;

FIG. 14 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets -- planview -- upper surface;

FIG. 15 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets -- plan view-- under surface; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets -- planview -- upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based ontwo year old plants made during June while budded on Rosa froebeliiunderstock and growing outdoors at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France. Thecoloration in common terms precedes reference to the chart.

Class: Hybrid Tea.

Plant:

Height.--Approximately 90 to 120 cm.

Habit.--Upright.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: light green, Yellow-Green Group 146C, tinted withreddish green. Adult wood: medium green, Yellow-Green Group 146B.

Thorns.--Size: medium to large. Quantity: Numerous. Color: Pinkish onyoung canes and brown on adult canes.

Leaves:

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, very wide and linear.

Petioles.--Upper surface: striped, reddish brown on young leaves andmedium green on adult foliage with glandular edges. Under surface: lightgreen, and bear some thorns.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5, and 7 (most often). Shape: oval Serration:simple and regular. Texture: leathery. General appearance: dense andsemi-dull. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: reddish brown. Undersurface: reddish brown. Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: darkgreen, Yellow-Green Group 147A. Under surface: medium green,Yellow-Green Group 147B.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Generally 1 to 5 per stem.

Peduncle.--Straight, rigid, more or less tinted reddish brown, andcommonly bear a few thorns and pediculate glands. The length isapproximately 5 cm. on average.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose, greenish and slightly tinted reddishin coloration. Under surface: smooth, light green in coloration, theedges of the outer sepals are slightly appendiculated.

Buds.--Shape: Elongated. Length: approximately 4 cm. on average. Size:average. Color upon opening: Upper surface: cream white, Yellow-WhiteGroup 158B, with slightly rosy edges. Under surface: cream white,Yellow-White Group 158B with slightly pinkish edges.

Flower.--Shape: cup-like and very double. Diameter: approximately 12 cm.on average. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface: cream white,Yellow-White Group 158B and tinted with light orient pink, Red Group36C, and light Naples yellow, Yellow Group 11C, at the base of thepetals. Under surface: same as upper surface. Color: (when blooming):Upper surface: light cream white, Yellow-White Group 158D, and slightlytinted with light orient pink, Red Group 36D, and light amber yellow,Yellow-Orange Group 18C, at the base of the inner petals. Under surface:same as upper surface. Color (at end of opening): Upper surface: palecream white, Yellow-White Group 158D, and slightly tinted with paleorient pink, Red Group 36D. Under surface: same as upper surface.Fragrance: Strong. Lasting quality: long. Petal number: approximately 65on average. Petal form: oval. Texture: consistent. Petal drop: thepetals drop off cleanly. Stamen number: approximately 102 on average.Anthers: yellow in coloration. Filaments: orange-yellow in coloration,of irregular heights. Pistils: approximately 56 on average. Stigmas:normal, yellowish in coloration, located above the anthers. Styles:fuchsine in coloration, often bonded together at base, and of irregularheights. Receptacle: light green, smooth, in longitudinal section arewide and in the shape of a funnel.

Development:

Vegetation.--Vigorous.

Blooming.--Abundant and continuous.

Aptitude to bear fruits.--Normal.

Resistance to diseases.--Good.

Resistance to frost.--Good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsin abundance very double long lasting cream white blossoms which exhibita strong fragrance, (b) exhibits an upright, vigorous, compact and bushygrowth habit, (c) is well adapted for growing in containers, and (d) isnot particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases;substantially asherein shown and described.